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Is this the end of an era for Skype users? 💔 In a surprising move, Microsoft has officially curtailed purchases of Skype credits and phone numbers as they pivot towards a subscription-only model. No more topping up your account with credit—it seems that the tech giant is firmly steering users away from one-time payments in favor of monthly plans. This shift marks a significant change in how we connect via Skype, raising questions about user adaptability and brand loyalty. How do you feel about this transition? Are subscriptions the future of communication platforms, or does it deter you from using Skype altogether? What alternatives are you considering now that traditional payment options have disappeared? Let’s dive into this discussion! Do you think Microsoft is making the right move by prioritizing subscriptions over traditional credit systems? Connect with startups to drive your corporate innovation 🚀 Book a meeting! https://lnkd.in/dFYwmbHq #Skype #Microsoft #TechNews #Subscriptions #Communications #Innovation #DigitalCommunication #UserExperience #TechnologyTrends #SaaS Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dehRvdgQ

Is this the end of an era for Skype users? 💔 In a surprising move, Microsoft has officially curtailed purchases of Skype credits and phone numbers as they pivot towards a subscription-only model. No more topping up your account with credit—it seems that the tech giant is firmly steering users away from one-time payments in favor of monthly plans. This shift marks a significant change in how we connect via Skype, raising questions about user adaptability and brand loyalty. How do you feel about this transition? Are subscriptions the future of communication platforms, or does it deter you from using Skype altogether? What alternatives are you considering now that traditional payment options have disappeared? Let’s dive into this discussion! Do you think Microsoft is making the right move by prioritizing subscriptions over traditional credit systems? Connect with startups to drive your corporate innovation 🚀 Book a meeting! https://lnkd.in/dFYwmbHq #Skype #Microsoft #TechNews #Subscriptions #Communications #Innovation #DigitalCommunication #UserExperience #TechnologyTrends #SaaS Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dehRvdgQ

Is this the end of an era for Skype users? 💔 In a surprising move, Microsoft has officially curtailed purchases of Skype credits and phone numbers as they pivot towards a subscription-only model. No more topping up your account with credit—it seems that the tech giant is firmly steering users away from one-time payments in favor of monthly plans. This shift marks a significant change in how we connect via Skype, raising questions about user adaptability and brand loyalty. How do you feel about this transition? Are subscriptions the future of communication platforms, or does it deter you from using Skype altogether? What alternatives are you considering now that traditional payment options have disappeared? Let’s dive into this discussion! Do you think Microsoft is making the right move by prioritizing subscriptions over traditional credit systems? Connect with startups to drive your corporate innovation 🚀 Book a meeting! https://lnkd.in/dFYwmbHq #Skype #Microsoft #TechNews #Subscriptions #Communications #Innovation #DigitalCommunication #UserExperience #TechnologyTrends #SaaS Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dehRvdgQ

Is this the end of an era for Skype users? 💔 In a surprising move, Microsoft has officially curtailed purchases of Skype credits and phone numbers as they pivot towards a subscription-only model. No more topping up your account with credit—it seems that the tech giant is firmly steering users away from one-time payments in favor of monthly plans. This shift marks a significant change in how we connect via Skype, raising questions about user adaptability and brand loyalty. How do you feel about this transition? Are subscriptions the future of communication platforms, or does it deter you from using Skype altogether? What alternatives are you considering now that traditional payment options have disappeared? Let’s dive into this discussion! Do you think Microsoft is making the right move by prioritizing subscriptions over traditional credit systems? Connect with startups to drive your corporate innovation 🚀 Book a meeting! https://lnkd.in/dTxGsKrN #Skype #Microsoft #TechNews #Subscriptions #Communications #Innovation #DigitalCommunication #UserExperience #TechnologyTrends #SaaS Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dnYNMDVe

Is this the end of an era for Skype users? 💔 In a surprising move, Microsoft has officially curtailed purchases of Skype credits and phone numbers as they pivot towards a subscription-only model. No more topping up your account with credit—it seems that the tech giant is firmly steering users away from one-time payments in favor of monthly plans. This shift marks a significant change in how we connect via Skype, raising questions about user adaptability and brand loyalty. How do you feel about this transition? Are subscriptions the future of communication platforms, or does it deter you from using Skype altogether? What alternatives are you considering now that traditional payment options have disappeared? Let’s dive into this discussion! Do you think Microsoft is making the right move by prioritizing subscriptions over traditional credit systems? Connect with startups to drive your corporate innovation 🚀 Book a meeting! https://lnkd.in/dFYwmbHq #Skype #Microsoft #TechNews #Subscriptions #Communications #Innovation #DigitalCommunication #UserExperience #TechnologyTrends #SaaS Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dehRvdgQ

Microsoft axes Skype credit - shifting towards a subscription model for international calling Microsoft has quietly phased out a key feature of Skype: the ability to top up credit and purchase phone numbers. Instead, the company is pushing users towards a subscription-based model for international calling. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that it has permanently halted new sales of Skype credit and Skype numbers. This shift, while not officially announced, has left many users surprised and disappointed. While existing Skype credit can still be used, new purchases are no longer possible. For users who relied on Skype for affordable international calls, this change will necessitate a switch to alternative services or a move to Skype's subscription plans. The move signals a significant change in Skype's trajectory. Once a pioneer in internet calling and messaging, the platform has faced increasing competition from rivals like WhatsApp, Telegram, Zoom, and Microsoft's own Teams. In March 2020, Microsoft revealed that Skype had spiked to 40 million daily users, as people sought ways to stay in touch with loved ones during lockdown. This, it said, represented a 70% month-on-month increase, implying that its usual daily activity was around 23.5 million — though it didn’t detail how many of these people were Skype-to-Skype. In a follow-on statement sent to TechCrunch at the time, the company added that it was used by 100 million people each month. It’s not clear how many active users Skype has today. However, in a blog post last year the company noted that “more than 36 million people use Skype daily to connect through phone calls and chats across borders and around the world.” https://lnkd.in/gPbVd2bE

Did you know 8x8 is now the only Operator Connect provider with a Native Contact Center Solution certified to integrate with Teams? 🌐 This significant achievement marks a milestone in business communication solutions, offering enhanced PSTN calling directly through Microsoft Teams. Here’s what sets our service apart: ▪️ Reliability and Security: Direct peering through Microsoft Azure, meeting the highest standards of program architecture and shared SLAs with Microsoft. ▪️ A Complete Portfolio: Includes flexible calling plans and a Teams-certified contact center, tailored to your organizational needs. ▪️ Familiar Teams Phone Experience: Minimises training and accelerates onboarding by integrating calling features within the Teams app. ▪️ Increased Admin Efficiency: Simplifies number provisioning and user management through the Teams admin center. Launching in 20 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, 8x8 is poised to redefine enterprise communication. https://buff.ly/3Whsnxz #MicrosoftTeams #OperatorConnect #8x8 #BusinessCommunication

Think Microsoft’s unified communications are just another player in a crowded market? Think again. 👉Microsoft has quietly revolutionized the way businesses communicate, with innovations that are hard to ignore. Their enhanced telephony, offering an impressive 99.999% uptime for Teams Phone, is setting new standards for reliability. Seamlessly integrating with Microsoft 365, this solution lets businesses streamline communications and eliminate the hassle of juggling multiple platforms. The result? A smoother, more efficient workflow. 🌟Features like Direct Routing, Operator Connect, and Teams Phone Mobile add flexibility, giving businesses control over how they manage their voice services. This means companies can tailor their communications to fit their exact needs, all while staying within the familiar Microsoft ecosystem. ⁉️Sure, there are still areas where Microsoft is evolving, like advanced contact center solutions. But in a market where companies like Cisco are making moves, Microsoft’s strong position and continuous innovation prove they’re staying ahead. For businesses already using Microsoft tools, the integration is seamless - and that’s a game changer in today’s fast-paced environment. #GartnerMagicQuadrant #UCaaS #TeamsPhone

UST is a global digital transformation solutions provider that needed a single solution to empower its 33,000 frontline employees. By leveraging the expertise of Microsoft Teams and prioritizing operational efficiencies, they could unify essential applications and combine multiple solutions into a single platform. Learn more about how they deployed this unified app and connected the broader organization to boost operational efficiency across a globally distributed workforce. #UST #MicrosoftTeams

INDUSTRY NEWS 📰💡 Microsoft plans to increase Teams Phone prices 💰 Starting April 1st 2025, Microsoft is raising the cost of Microsoft Teams Phone subscriptions 📞 According to Microsoft, the price increase reflects the continuous innovations delivered. Check out this UC Today article to learn more. #technews #techtuesday #telecomnews #businesscommunications #cloudcommunications #priceincrease #innovation #voip #Microsoft